YouTube Says iOS Picture-in-Picture Coming to All Users 'in a Matter of Days' [Updated]

[MacRumors]

Following a lengthy testing period, YouTube's picture-in-picture support for iOS will begin rolling out in the next few days, allowing all users, including non-premium and premium subscribers, to close the YouTube app and continue watching their video in a small pop-up window.

Google in June announced that picture-in-picture support would be rolling out to both premium and non-paying YouTube app users in the U.S., but many people outside the country have been able to get it working, so the company could be making it globally available.

Only YouTube Premium subscribers have had access to picture-in-picture mode on iOS as an "experimental feature," and at one stage this was interpreted to mean it would remain a premium-only feature, until Google clarified that it would eventually be coming to all users in the country.

On Sunday, in a tweeted response to a user having problems accessing the experimental feature, YouTube said picture in picture would be available in "a matter of days" for devices running iOS 15 and later.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1513174475612856324

For those unfamiliar with the feature, picture-in-picture allows videos to be watched while using other apps. When watching a video, users can tap the picture-in-picture button to move the video to a smaller window that floats over the Home Screen or other apps.

YouTube has extended the testing period for the feature several times in an effort to improve the experience before an official launch, and it now appears that the company is almost ready for it to go live.

• How to Use Picture in Picture Mode on iPhone

The availability of YouTube picture-in-picture has been back and forth, with the feature sometimes working via the YouTube website on Safari. Some users have resorted to Shortcuts to turn off built-in parameters on the YouTube site that disables picture-in-picture. But with official support just around the corner, those workarounds will no longer be needed.

Update: YouTube has clarified its earlier comment about the rollout "in a matter of days," and said that it was made in reference to YouTube TV, not YouTube.

"What's currently being rolled out is the YouTube TV picture-in-picture for iOS 15+ devices," YouTube said on Twitter. "If you're referring to the YouTube app, it's only available to Premium members on Android mobile phones.

Article Link: YouTube Says iOS Picture-in-Picture Coming to All Users 'in a Matter of Days' [Updated]

 

[contacos]

Right ... just like system dark mode is for everyone. I still do not have it and I have been a paying customer (granted, via India) for like 2 years. I had it for literally 2 minutes at some point and it went away again ?

 

[Kylo83]

I’ve had it for months why did it take so long, also why can’t they have a dark mode that’s system wide

 

[lysingur]

PiP is one of those FaaS (feature as a service) that people actually subscribe to YouTube Premium for. And it will no longer have any attraction whatsoever if this rumour becomes a reality.

 

[chfilm]

Wow. Unbelievable it took them so long!

 

[imlovinit]

Been using it for months now that I forgot it was only a test this entire time…insane. It’s a long time coming and honestly my most used feature.

 

[Kylo83]

All I want is dark mode to automatically turn on when system goes into dark mode it’s shocking it doesn’t already

 

[ghostface147]

I never use their app. So I’ll never see PiP.

 

[bgraham]

This is awesome!! I'm honestly surprised they did this given they insist on making you pay for Premium to play videos in the background.

 

[fwmireault]

It’s unclear if and when people outside US will get PiP, but I see absolutely no reason why we could not have it if everybody in US can… it’s a system feature

 

[Jeaz]

It’s odd how this has worked via Safari for years but not the app. Main reason I’ve not been using the app.

 

[metallicpail]

Only took them 20 years... ?

 

[bookofxero]

This is awesome!! I'm honestly surprised they did this given they insist on making you pay for Premium to play videos in the background.

I paid for premium when I would watch videos while watching the kids just to avoid the ads, but it was and is overpriced for what you get and the whole aspect of limiting such a key feature that should be standard just to try to force it is ridiculous. Have they no one that attended a basic business class on price optimization? Apparently this is a difficult concept for them and Hulu and their ilk to understand.

 

[OS X Dude]

I had a three-month YouTube Premium trial via an Xbox Game Pass Ultimate 'perk' and I loved it. I was prepared to sign-up after the trial, but the cost is prohibitive since I already have One for Music, etc. All I want is no ads and the ability to play with the screen turned off while I'm cleaning the bathroom or something, but it seems like there's no lower tier that allows this. I know 'Premium Lite' was trialled somewhere in Europe but it's not available in the UK.

Give me that at £5.99-7.99/month and I'd jump at it. I use YouTube quite a lot, and while I ad-block on desktop I can't do that via the TV or iOS app without modding my router or buying a Raspberry Pi and maintaining/running it which I'm not interested in doing.

 

[Saturnine]

I wonder if the delay in putting this feature out is due to ads.

It’s never been an issue for Premium subscribers since they don’t see ads, but I’m unsure if Apple’s API allowed videos played in PiP to change source on the fly, e.g. from the video stream to the ad stream and back.

I wonder if it’s something they’ve had to work with Apple on.

Assuming ads will still play in PiP it will get slightly annoying to have to open the video in full, press Skip, and go back to PiP, especially when hit with a long ad. But I’m sure YouTube won’t mind promoting Premium as the solution to that particular problem.

 

[Villarrealadrian]

Solution: delete youtube app, use youtube in brave browser and add the video to playlist (pink button at the top) pip will work

 

[WWPD]

Go TeamYouTube...this is the greatest thing they've ever done since removing down votes...

 

[RamGuy]

PiP is one of those FaaS (feature as a service) that people actually subscribe to YouTube Premium for. And it will no longer have any attraction whatsoever if this rumour becomes a reality.

I find it stupid to limit essential features like this behind a paywall. But I'm already a YouTube Premium subscriber, not because of PiP, because of no ads. Sure I could use an adblocker, but that's difficult when watching a lot using tvOS on Apple TV and whatnot. I also prefer to not block ads on YouTube, I would much rather that all the content creators that put out hours upon hours of content I consume at least get some kind of payment instead of me simply blocking all the ads with an adblocker. Paying for YouTube Premium won't help them much, but at least it's something instead of nothing.

 

[TheYayAreaLiving 🎗️]

Took such a long time without any valid reasoning.

YouTube was really trying to charge the non-premium customers for this PIP feature and guess what it didn’t work. Let's just hope it doesn't take too long.

 

[th1nk]

They are not saying anything about the iPad, so I guess it will only come to iPhone. I would much rather have it on iPad…

 

[DEMinSoCAL]

I find it stupid to limit essential features like this behind a paywall.

That made me laugh. There's nothing essential about YouTube.

 

[44267547]

Yeah buddy.

For me personally, in the gym, I can now minimize the display and search my next song either on Apple Music or Amazon music, if I’m listening to a song from YouTube when working out.

 

[Jeven Stobs]

I’ve been using YT in Safari for years now. Adblock and the PiP shortcut rule. I don’t really get people that still use the app.
I can even play sound in the background or when the device is locked.
Some people don’t want features but convenience.

 

[dylanthomas]

I'll just continue using Safari with an ad-blocker and PiPifier, thanks.

 

[Jeven Stobs]

That made me laugh. There's nothing essential about YouTube.

YouTube is essentially the video monopoly of the western world, the go-to standart. If you make videos (not movies of special content for/on TikTok and the like) and don’t post them on YouTube you’re done for. No one’s really gonna care.
It is essential in many ways, just fancy features aren’t.